Nearly 18 months in the making, the plan lays out a blueprint for growth on the Main and Downtown academic campuses and for an athletics and recreational complex at UTSA Park West. The Institute of Texan Cultures master plan is still in development, and plans for its 15-acre site also will tie into the City of San Antonio's vision for redeveloping downtown's HemisFair Park.

The plan, which will be presented to the UT System Board of Regents in August, strives to make the university's three campuses more livable, workable and sustainable, and supports the university's strategic plan, UTSA 2016: A Shared Vision. Suggested changes include a refurbished Main Campus entrance at Loop 1604 and John Peace Boulevard with a bell tower as an iconic image; transforming both academic campuses by adding tree-lined walkways and paseos; and gradually replacing surface parking with parking garages.

"As we reach our goal to become a nationally recognized research university, it is vital that we design a plan that will best support that vision," said UTSA President Ricardo Romo. "I am confident we have done that here."

The university worked with BGK Architects Inc. of Austin and Michael Dennis and Associates of Boston during the process. All planning documents, an executive summary and the final master plan will be available on the UTSA Web site within the next three to four weeks.

The plan was developed following a series of meetings with numerous stakeholders of the university.